Bookkeeping device



April 1951 A. J. BICKEL 2,549,956

BOOKKEEPING DEVICE Filed March 5, 1947 2 Sheets-She d. 1

ARTHUR J. B/cnEL April 1951 A. J. BICKEL 2,549,956

BQOKKEEPING DEVICE Filed March 5, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 Ila/E1725? i e 22 ARTHUR J. BICKEL. &\ wmx w 1 557 I E HZ2 5 Patented Apr. 24, 1951 BOOKKEEPING DEVICE Arthur J. Bickel, Chicago, 111., assignor to Ac.- counting Forms, Inc., .Chicago, 111., a corporation of Wisconsin Application March 5, 1947, Serial No. 732,402 11 Claims. (01. 282.29)

The present invention relates generally to a bookkeeping device and particularly to a device including a posting board on which a plurality of superimposed sheets may be supported, whereby an entry made on the original may be simultaneously posted on other sheets.

Another object of the present invention is to provide abookkeeping device wherein an original entry made on one sheet may be simultaneously duplicated on other sheets, which other sheets ma; be separated to form different parts of permanent records.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a bookkeeping device which includes a Figure 6 is a fragmental sectional view of :the plate rocked on a compressedspring as a :fulcrum. According to the drawings, a posting board .III is provided, which may be of any suitable size,

' shape or material.

A clamp plate I I, which is of transparent ma: terial, such for example as Lucite, and generally oblong in shape is mounted adjacent aside margin of the board.' In the present instance the clamp plate is illustrated as mounted adja-v cent or along the right hand edge of the board IB with the length of the plate parallel to the right hand edge of theboard.

The inner, or left hand margin of the clamp posting, board on which a plurality o p plate n, is rabbeted or notched at I2 lengthwise Posed-Sheets maybe Pi and may be moifed of the plate in the lower surface thereof, as may g h g the board wl'thout danger of be observed in Figures 3, 4 and 5. The notch'or a lgnmg rabbet l2 forms an overhang I la-and two lon i- Generauy speaking the device of the present tudinally extending arallel shoulders or edg es invention contemplates a posting board having a 20' M m m h s grip 6r hd1d side or margin clamp that includes a transparent ing d to to 1 3, a l I i which sheet is clamped to the board by the transgu i z zgfig f z i g g ii i l It invention also contemplates novel means for of g i gg gfi g f i f ggfifi g i fm ig supporting the clam-ping plate for Tockingaction and that the outer edge I3 is above the inner about different fulcra at different stages of its edge M as a part of the overhang a as: \tlcriacil-itate man pulation and alignment of 3.0 isabove the lowerface of the plate am The above other and further objects of the servitlg the plate n the manner Showgirl the? present invention will be apparent from the fol- $5 1 3 1? 5 21 32 1; LL; fi i g i g lowing description and accompanying drawings. s 5 g .5

An embodiment of the present invention "is 35.. Whlch are fastenedat smula'r/endspy illustrated on the accompanying drawings and suitable meanssuch as screws 18 and 19, through the views thereof are as follows: I the board adjacient e ends f the plate as Figure 1 is a plan view of a board of the presmay be 9 in Figure The'other en f the en-t invention having superposed thereon a s'umhinge spmigs bent w d each other a mary sheet, a ledger sheet and a check, andil- 49 1 respectwely Whlchbentends, as p l lustrating the arrangement of the various sheets on the board for alignment of the various sheets when an original entry'is to-be made on'the uppermost sheet or check.

Figure 2 is an end view of the arrangement of Figure 1 looking "at "the bottom of the board as illustratedin-Figure'l.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmental cross sectional view taken on the plane of line III- 1H of Figure 1 and showing all of the sheets clamped against the board by the clamp -plate.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing the clamp plate rocked on one fulcrum to release holding engagement of certain of the sheets while maintaining holding engagement of the lowermost or record sheet.

Figure 5 is a similar view showing the clamp plate rocked on'its second fulcrum to disengage it from holding engagement with all of the sheets ontheboard.

are entered in apertures formed in the ends of the plate adjacent the inner edge l4 The hinge spr g l 6 and l are t ns oned so as urge the inner edge l d against the boar,

Sh uld the hinge springs :16 and I! be made: quate to tightly hold :the inner edge 14 against the board, throughout thelength of the plate .11, additional springs 2.2 may :be provided. The springs 22 may .be .of wiresuitably tensionedand attached to the board at similar ends by fastening means such .as screw 23. The'other ends of the springs 22 enter stirrups 24 inserted in the plate ll, adjacent the inner edge 14, with the upper ends of the stirrups against the upper surface of the plate and the loops of the stir-rups below the lower face of the plate to receive the free ends of the springs 22. Figures 3, iand '5 show the manner of connection of the springs 22 to-the stirrups 24. Between the plate II and the underlying por- 0 no mally are bolts 28 which may be bolts 28 are so mounted in Secured to the plate II are stops 35 disposed to have similar tion of the board I0, and at spaced intervals in the length of the plate, are coiled springs 25 acting against the plate to urge it away from the board and which springs constitute means operating with the springs I3, I1 and 22 to hold the edges l3 and I4 of the plate II against the board and the plate in tilted position.

The springs 25 able apertures in the board, the other ends 21 thereof being' entered in suitable apertures in the plate II.

7 would be made out in the name of an employee,

are shown as attached to the board by similar ends 26 thereof entered in suit- Secured in the board I0 and spaced one from V 1 another throughout the length of the plate I| threaded into the board |ii and held in place thereon by nuts 29; Every bolt 23 is covered by a resilient cap 33 of rubber or other suitable resilient material. The the board I0 that in normal operation of the clamp the plate II is spaced from the bolts by the springs 25. The bolts 28 constitute a second fulcrum for the plate. A record sheet 3| is used with the board I0. The record sheet 3| is illustrated as having a plurality of lines 32 printed on it while all of the lines are consecutively numbered as at 33 near one margin of the sheet which is shown as the left hand margin in the drawings. Along at or near the right hand margin of the sheet is a line number guide 34 which is the same as the line number 33 so that the numbers of the lines on the record sheet may be readable adjacent either or both of the side margins.

board I0 underneath the clamp edges in alignment which edges are parallel to the edges I3 and hi of the plate. The stops 35 are shown arranged on the board I0 with their aligned edges spaced from the inner edge I4 of the plate I I such a distance that when the record sheet 3| is inserted under the clamp the line number guide 34 will be visible through the plate adjacentthe inner edge I4, as may be readily observed in Figure 1. r

When the record sheet 3| is applied to the board the clamp plate I|, that is the upper margin thereof,.is depressedagainst. the bolts 28 and the resilient caps thereon and rocked thereon as a fulcrum to lift the edges I3 and M of the plate clear off the board so that the record sheet 3| may then be pushed underneath the edge I4 of the plate and against the stops 35, as shown in Figure 1, to thus position the sheet on the board. After the sheet has been moved against the stops 35, hand pressurejon the plate II is released whereupon the springs 25 and the springs I6, I1 and 22 move the edges I3 and I4 of the plate against the record sheetin clamping engagement.

A carbon sheet 31 is laid on the record sheet 3| and its right hand margin moved against the shoulder I5 of the notch, as stop, when the outer edge I3 of the clamp plate is raised. To raise the outer edge I3 of the clamp plate without raising the inner edge l4, hand pressure is applied to the upper margin of the plate I to rock the plate on the inner edge H! as a fulcrum and raise the outer edge I3 from against the board or the record sheet 3|, as. the case may be; to approximately the position shown in Figure 4. When the outer edge I3 is raised in the manner stated, by rocking the plate on the inner edge I4 as a fulcrum, the carbon sheet 3'! and other sheets may be inserted underneath the outer edge I3 of the plate and against the shoulder I5 of the notch as a stop. L

and a check 39, which is a paycheck for that particular employeefor the particular pay period are then inserted on top of the carbon sheet 31,

underneath the'outer edge I3 of the clamp plate when said edge has been raised in the manner heretofore described and as illustrated in Figure 4.

Figure 1 shows the ledger sheet 38 and check 39 arranged to have the entries made on line 18 of the record sheet. It is to be presumed that lines 1 to l2 inclusive have been filled with the names and other data relating totwelve'other employees;

Along the top margin of the check 39 and tearable therefrom is a tear off portion 4|! which portion is imprinted with spaces 4| in endwise alignment lengthwise of the check andin width substantially the same as the distance between any two lines 32 of the recordsheet 3|.

Ihe ledger sheet 38 has a column 43 of numbers along its left hand margin, which are consecutively arranged to designate pay periods. A similar column of numbers 43a is arranged along the right hand margin of the ledger sheet in such manner that when the ledger sheet is inserted under the clamp plate II the numbers in the column 43awill be visible. through the-plate-H between the edges I3 and I4 of'the same,- as may be noted in Figure 1. In order to align the check 39 so that the spaces 4| of its tearoff portion are in register with the number of a particular payroll period and also with the proper line of the record sheet 3|, the right and left hand ends ofthe tear off portion 4|] are notched respectively at 44 and 45, the notch 44 exposing a number in the column 43a and the notch 45 exposing the same number in the column 43 of the ledger sheet. When the sheets are arranged and aligned as shown in Figure 1, suitable entries are made in the spaces 4| of the tear off portion 4|] of the check, preferably by use of a pen, such entries are reproduced on the ledger sheet and the record sheet. The 'undersurface of the tear off portion 40 of the check is preferably'provided with carbon material underlying the spaces 4| so that entries. made in the spaces 4| of the checkwill be reproduced on the ledger sheet by reason of such carbon. The same data also will be reproduced in line 13 of the record sheet 3| by means of the carbon sheet 31 between the ledger sheet and the record sheet. H I

7 When a'check' anda ledger sheet have been duly inscribed in the spaces 4|, the clamp plate II is rocked on its loweredge-M as a fulcrum to raise the outer edge I3 to allow removal of the ledger sheet and check and prevent the removal of the record sheet and carbon paper.

Thereafter the ledger sheet and check for an other employee are inserted, this time aligned with line 14 of the record sheet whereupon-- the process is repeated. f

It will be noted that as entries are madeon the record sheet, towards its bottom, there may not be sufficient of the board exposed on which the writer may rest his hand. In such event clamp plate |I may be rocked onthe bolts 28 as a fulcrum to lift both of the edges I3 and I4 from the sheet whereupon the record sheet and check may be moved up or down on the board, preferably up so that the v writer will have a sufiicient rest for his hand to complete entries on the angers recordsheet. Such movement of thetsheetsmay be'made without misaligning them during suclr movement and with full assurance of. alignmentv when the clam plate is released to clamp all'of the sheets against the board. with the record sheet against the stops 35;

The fact that the clamp plate H is transparent makes thisfeature possible. It is to be noted that. after the record: sheet and carbon sheet have been inserted against the stops 35 by raising the edge Id of the plate; above the board, which raising is accomplished by tilting the plate onthe bolts 28 as a fulcrum, the only movement of the platenecessary thereafter to enable insertion and removal of the ledger sheet and check is by slight rocking: movement of the clamp plate on the edge Mas a fulcrum.

Because of the novel fulcrum arrangement of the present invention, slight hand pressure is' required to lift the outer edge l3 of the plate from the ledger sheet andcheck. The fact that the springs tend to urge the edges against the board, thus maintain edge 14 against the register- 3.! and carbon sheet 3'! while the outer edge 13 is being elevated for insertion and removal of the ledger sheet and check.

Figure 6 shows how the posting board of thepresent invention could be arranged to use the springs 25 when compressed as afulcrum, which construction would eliminate the need for other means as a fulcrum.

Other means than the bolts 26 might be used for the fulcrum fortilting the edge I4 away from the board In.

It will, of course, be understood that various details of construction may be varied. through a wide range without departing from the principles of. this invention, and it is, therefore, not the purpose to limit the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A bookkeeping device comprising a posting board, a clamp for removably holding a plurality of superimposed sheets on said board, said clamp including a rockable plate, spring means for holding one margin of said plate against said board, other spring means for holding the other margin of said plate away from said board in tilted position, said plate having a fulcrum edge along said one margin thereof about which said plate may rock, and means engaging the ends of said plate to preventany but rocking movement with respect to the board.

2.. A bookkeeping device comprising a posting board, a clamp for removably holding a plurality of superimposed sheets on said board, said clamp including a rockable plate, spring means for holdfng' one margin of said plate against said board, other spring means for holding the other margin of said plate away from said board in tilted position, said one margin being rabbeted along its: underside to provide an overhang and two parallel edges lengthwise of the plate with one of said edges as a part of said overhang, the other of. said edges constituting a fulcrum on which said plate may be rocked to raise. said one edge from the board when pressure is applied to the plate near its other margin.

3. A bookkeeping device comprising a posting board, a clamp for removablyholding a plurality of superimposed sheets on said; board, said clamp including a rockable plate, spring means for holding one margin of said plate against said board, other spring means for holding the other margin of sa idplate awayfrom said: board. intilted position, said one margin. beingrabbet'ed; along'its underside to provide. anoverhang: and: two parallel edges lengthwise ofithe. plate. with one of said edges: as a part of saidoverhang, the other ofisaid; edges constitutinga fulcrumonwhich said plate may be rocked to raise said one edge from the; board; when pressure: is applied to the plate near. its other margin, means on saidlboardunderlying said plate to constitute a. second. fulcrum, saidv other spring means normally holding said plate away. from said second fulcrum, said second fulcrum being effective toraisesaid first fulcrum from: the board when pressure is applied to saidv plate near its other margin in an amountsufl'lcient to move said plate against said second fulcrum.

is A bookkeeping device comprising a posting, board, means for holding groups of superimposed sheets-v on said board, said means including. a

rockable plate having laterally spaced parallel edges along a margin thereof, one edge being an outer edge and the other edge being an inner edge, spring means for'holding said plate in tilted position with both of said edges against said board, fulcrum means eifective to cause rocking of said plate to raise both edges from the board,-

for insertion of a sheet underneath the inner edge, said inner edge constituting another fulcrum for raising only the outer edge from the board for insertion of asheet underneath the outer edge only and superimposed on said first sheet, and stop means for limiting the extent of insertion of said-first sheet underneath said inneredge, said inner edge also serving to limit the; extent of insertion of said second sheet under the saidouter edge.

5. A bookkeeping device comprising. av posting; board, a clamp on said board comprising a. plate, of transparent material rookably mounted on said board and having a side margin thereof spring urged into contact with said board, said sidev margin being rabbeted upwardly from the bottom face of said plate to provide twoparallel edges lengthwise of said plate and constituting an inner holding edge and an outer holding edge, hinge means connected to the ends of said plate, means. exerting spring action on said plate to hold said inner edge against the board, and other means. acting against the bottom surface of said plate; to tilt the other side margin thereof away from the board, said last means being elastic to be compressed. when said plate is rocked on said inner holding edge, as a fulcrum to raise the outer holding edge from the board.

6. A. bookkeeping. device comprising a posting board, a clamp. on saidv board comprisinga plate of transparent material rockably mounted on said board and having a. side margin thereof spring urged into contact with saidboard, said sidemargin being rabbeted upwardly from the bottom face of said plate to provide two parallel edges lengthwise of said plate and constituting an inner holding edge and an outer holding edge, hinge means.- connected to the ends of said plate, means exerting spring action on said plate to hold said inner edge against the board, and other means acting against the bottom surface of said plate to tilt the other side margin thereof; away from the board, said last means being elastic to be compressed when said plate is rocked on said; inner holding; edgeas a fulcrum toraisethe outer holding edge" from the board, and means constituting a second fulcrum on which said plate may be rocked to raise said inner holding edge from said board, said sioned to normally hold mounted along a side margin last mentioned means. normally holding said plate away'from' said second fulcrum means.

'7'. A clamp board for holding a record sheet, a clamp comprising a member having a length substantially that of the height of the board and dis-' posed along an end of the board, said member being formed to provide two corner edges extending lengthwise thereof in vertically offset relationship, sprin means for pressing the lower of said edges against the board, hinge means having pintles entered in the ends of said member adjacent the lower of said edges to thereby constitute said edge a fulcrum, said member being'rockable about said fulcrum to raise theupper edge of the board for insertion and removal of sheets, means providing a second fulcrum remote from the first fulcrum about which the lower edge may be raised from the board when sufiieient pressure is applied to the plate,a second spring means acting against said plate to normally space fulcrum.

8. A posting board for bookkeeping, comprising a holddown plate disposed along a side margin of the board and supported for rocking movement,

rabbeted along its inner margin said plate being to provide two parallel edges lengthwise of the plate with one edge above the other with respect to the bottom of the plate, hinge connections at the ends of the plate adjacent said other or lower edge, said hinge connections being spring tensaid lower edge against the board as a fulcrum, and other spring means acting against said plate to tilt it with respect to the board to hold the upper edge against the board by rocking it about said lower edge as a fulcrum.

9. A book or record keeping device comprising in combination, a posting board adapted to receive a record sheet, a clamp plate tiltably mounted along a side margin of said board, spring meansfor maintaining the inner underside margin of said plate against the board, the inner underside margin of said plate being rabbeted to provide parallel edges extending lengthwise of the plate and in different planes with respect to the bottom surface of the plate and to provide a stop spaced from the inner side edge of the plate, hinge-means engaging the ends ofsaid plate adjacent the stop thereof, saidhinge means including spring means acting to hold the inner of said edgesagainst the board surface as a fulcrum, other spring means effective lengthwise of the plate and engageable therewith substantially medially thereof to elevate the outer edge of the plate and to hold other spring means bein compressible when the plate is rocked on said first fulcrum by hand pressure applied to the outer margin of the plate, bumper means on the board underneath said plate and underlying said plate lengthwise thereof with the plate normally spaced above said bumper means by said other spring means, said bumper means constituting a second fulcrum to lift said first fulcrum from the board when excessive hand pressure is applied to the outer margin of the plate to force the plate against the bumper means in opposition to the resistance offered by said first and second spring means.

10. A book or record keeping device comprising in combination, a posting board adapted to receive a record sheet, a clamp plate tiltably it from said second the plate in tilted position, said of said board, I

spring means formaintaining the inner underside margin of said plate against the board, the inner underside margin of said plate being rabbeted to provide parallel edges extending lengthwise of the plate and indifferent planes with respect to the bottom surface of the plate and to provide a stop spaced from the inner side edge of the plate, hinge means engaging the ends of said plate adjacent the stop thereof, said hinge means including spring means acting to hold the inner of said edges against the board surface as a fulcrum, other spring means effective lengthwise of the plate and engageable therewith substantially meto, elevate the outer edge of the plate and to hold the-plate in tilted position, said other spring means being compressible when the plate is rocked on said first fulcrum by hand pressure applied to the outer margin of the plate, bumper means on the board underneath said plate and underlying said platelengthwise thereof with the plate normally spaced above said bumper means by ,said other spring means, said bumper means constituting a second fulcrum to lift said first fulcrum from the board when excessive hand pressure is applied to the outer margin of the plate to force the plate against the bumper means in opposition to the resistance offered by said first and second spring means, and abutment means on said board underneath said plate and disposed thereon between the first and second fulcra to serve as a stop for contact by a record sheet insertable under the inner margin of said plate when said plate has been rocked on the bumper means to raise the first fulcrum from the board.

11. A bookkeeping device comprising a posting board, a clamp for removably holding a plurality of superimposed sheets on said board, said clamp including a rockable plate, spring means for holding one margin of said plate against said board, other spring means for holding the other margin of said plate away from said board in tilted position, said one margin being rabbeted alon its underside to provide an' overhang and two parallel dially .thereof edges lengthwise of the plate with one of said edges as a part of said overhang, the other ofsaid.

ARTHUR J. YBICKEL,

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: 

